The Senate yesterday rejected two separate amendments to the immigration bill that would eliminate the Z Visa legalization program and limit the Y Visa guest worker program by phasing it out after five years.

The vote against sunsetting the Y Visa guest worker program was close at 49-48. (Earlier in the week, the Senate rejected an amendment that would have eliminated the Y Visa immigration program altogether by a vote of 64-31.)

The vote against eliminating the Z Visa legalization program was 66-29. 26 Republicans joined 38 Democrats and two independents to vote for the legalization program. Nine Democrats voted against it. They are: Pryor (D-AR), Landrieu (D-LA), McCaskill (D-MO), Baucus (D-MT), Tester (D-MT), Nelson (D-NE), Dorgan (D-ND), Byrd (D-WV), and Rockefeller (D-WV).

Sens. Alexander and Corker both voted to eliminate the Z Visa legalization program. Sen. Corker, a co-sponsor of the Y Visa amendment, voted for sunsetting the guest worker program. Sen. Alexander voted against it*.

The Senate has delayed a vote on the full immigration bill until June.

See here for more info on the immigration bill including the Y Visa guest worker program and the Z Visa legalization program.

*UPDATE: Looks like Sen. Alexander may have been the swing vote against the Y Visa sunset? ACK has more observations and speculation.